Deflation-indicator.



P. W. PUTNAM,

DEFLATION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILFD APR. 1, 1911,

1,087,979. Patented $SHELGT -SHL l.

F. W. PUTNAM.

DEFLATION INDICATOR.

. v APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1911. 1,087,979.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 F. W. PUTNAM.

DEFLATION INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1911.

lwuwnto o F VK'Putpa.

q owqrmilamb g MLAJJ v-AN $513 M aunt/mu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN W. PUTNAM, BINGHAlWTON, NEW YORK.

DEFLATION-INDICATOR.

Application filed April 1.

To all whom. it may concern:

KUI

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN W. For NAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county ofBrocine and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in De flation-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for indicating defiation of inflated tires, and has particular reference to a device of this char acter which will give an audible or visual signal or both, when the tire is wholly or partially deflated.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a deflation indicator which, when mounted upon a vehicle wheel, will operate reliably under the peculiar condition of service incident thereto, embodying rotation, frequently at enormous speed, subjection to sudden and powerful shocks and jolts, and the necessary and frequently violent contact with road materials, such as mud, and clay in various conditions of plasticit sand gravel broken stone. and the like, as well as contact with the sides of cuts or furrows of frozen or otherwise hardened earth.

Another objectof this invention is to proide an indicator of the character mentioned, which will be so constructed and disposed on the carrying wheel that it will be protected from injury by road materials of any character Or in any condition of surface configuration, as well any injury by other objects. as curbs, stepping stones, and

, the like, with which, but for its peculiar structure, it would be likely to come into dz'unaging contact.

Another object, of the invention is to provide a deflation indicator which any de gree of injurious deflation. howeversmall, will be indicated with certainty.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an indicator of the character mentioned, with a supporting;- structure for the operating parts thereof which will positively insure the maintenance of the relation of the operating parts imder even the Specification of Letters Patent.

hardest condition of usage, so that the satisfactory operation of such parts may be relied upon.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following s 'iccification, wherein r ference is made to the rurcompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a vehicle wheel, showing my deflation indicator mounted in perative position there on, Fig. 2 is a view partly in section showing a portion of a wheel and tire with my indicator in operative position, Fig. 3 is a. top view partly in section showing particularly means for securing it to the spokes of a wheel, Fig. 4 is a front view of the indicator in operative position, with the top portion of the surrounding casing removed to show the operative parts, Fig. 5 is a ceu tral longitinlinal sectional view of the indicator. Fig. (l is a cross-sectional view on line (l -G of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the indicator casing, showing the sliding dust-excluding closure for the lower end thereof, Fig. 8 a vertical sectional. view taken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a detail view of an operating lever and attached sprinq and, Fig. 10 a detail sectional view showing the lower end of the operating lever, the pivotal support therefor and the holding means for the tire engaging plate.

In the drawings wherein is illustrated preferred omhmliment of my invention, 1 designates the spokes of a vehicle wheel, 2 the felly, 3 the rim. and at an inflated tire. Securcd to the vehicle wheel. preferably to a spoke 1 thereof, is a deflation indicator 5 comprising a main or body portion ('3, and a curved tire engaging element 7. The indicator is preferably secured'to a, spoke by means of a pluralityof,pairs of clamps 8 one clump of each pair being" preferably hurled. as shown at 9. The outer or free ends of the clamps are apertured to receive a bolt '10. adapted to receive a clamping nut ll. 'lhc clamps are secured to a supporting base to be hereinafter referred to,-and a d1ist-cttcludiug metal casing 12. The inner portion 13 of the clamping elements is stamped into concave form to conform in a greater. or lesser extent to the configuration of the spokes with which such parts come into contact.

Within the casing 12 and. extencling longitudinally thereof is z preferably fiat rigicl metal. plate or bar 14 upon which the oper ating parts of the in licator are mounted. The lower end of the plate or bar 14; extends to one side and downwardly in the form of a curved projection or extension 1: which is so formed as to conform somewhat closely with the adjacent surface of the felly 2 The extension 15 preferably terminates at the sicle of the felly and. back of the rim 3, as shown. This arrangemen serves the important purpose of protectf the extension 15 and the parts inonntel thereon from injury by contact with road materials, the sirles of rats, curbs, and the like It is to be particularly noted that the e 1- tension 15 is in a particularly protected posi tion, being Wholly Within a vertical projectic-n of the outer portion of the tire 4. The end of the extension 15 is aperturecl. to receive a bolt or stub shaft 16 provided with a. securing nut 1'3 which is preferably proviclerl with a cotter pin 18 passing through the nut and an aperture in the bolt or shaft The end of the belt or shaft 16 opposite the nut 17 is provided with a slot or recess 19 for the reception of a tire engaging plate 20. The plate 20 is secured within the 19 by a set screw or nut Ql preferably provided Withe lock nut 22, as shown more particrlarly in Fig. 10. The tire engaging plate e tends beyond the shaft 16 in close proximity to the adjacent edge of the l 3 3, thence downwardly into contact with tl a tire l and at its outer portion 23 conforms to configuration of the acljacent portion of the tire.

By reference to Fig, 6, it will be seen that the eclges of the portion of the plate adapter to Contact With the tire arc llarcrl slightly outwarolly to minimize the friction. of the plate on the The plate 20 is preferably formed of stiff spring metal as steel brass or the like, ancl is preferably reii .7 l throughout the greater portion of its length by a plate which conforms in shape thereto. The plate 20 is formed as (le scribed, With a particular view to protecting; such "plate from injur by contact with road mater als the sides oi: rats, etc, which would exert a strong tendency to disrupt or (lisplace the said plate if exposed thereto, ?Ilticular attention is called to the fact that the plate 20 hugs the rim and tire closely as possible, all portions of the plate, except ing the free end thereof, being wholly ithin a vertical projection of the outer portion of the tire. flailjustahly secured to the bolt or rock shaft 16 and movable there- Wl'tll ancl with the plate 20 is an operating lever 25, surface of the supper plate 1 anrl tor minating apprommal Ly midway thereof. This lever is normally maintained. in

extending upwardly along; the 5 shavers position shown in liig. l; by the tension of a spring securedto the thereof and hearing against by the plfltei ivotally to the plate 14: is a stri lpport 29 carrying a hell clapper inrlicatce more particularly in 4'. T ll The pin 28 disposed at the ll l'l) lower corner o! the plate 29 n nich is normally maintained in the. position shown. in Fig. l bv means of a coil spring securecl to a pin 0.2 carried by the plate 5 39 anal a pita 33 extending onty from the plate 142. By reference to t will he noted that the sin serves also stop limit The pivotal movement of th: ate o in one 0 f against the side of the gong ich is seciirerl to the plate 1 lhv means of a supper stud 36. The plate Q9. is 1: vertically extending recess 3? 'Wi'hi is mounterl a plm has? or iii" having a portion therco striker from tending outside of the plate indicated in Fig. Lispo: rl between llh'; outward eat? of the her or trip clog of recess 37 15 a coil plGSSlDa 1% V r or stops ll 0 the OlllnM'lTil movement o F v that the EQQQY coil. of terminates it 1 tending; r irtiozi ill of the or that said portion lies in the pa 7 meat of the lever that when said moved against the tension of spring .4 will contact with the outwardl portion candor qnence thereof such rr will rock the lrer 28 a jainst th; e o the cjapyer 30 fro reference it it is to be noted that the striker plate operates to souncl an alarm the instant the ip ll-S passes the edge without requiring the lever 25 to move out of theme of the *ar or dog 38. A particular advantage of fill) wste produced by slight mox ever 2o.- on of the length of the tire a .-.e 538 with that of the operating in ch, as above stated, is movable therewith, wili Show that said plate 9.0 is materially shorter than the lever 25, the effect being thet'anfoutwnrd movement of the end 23 ot the plate "will produce a corre. non. but increased. movement of the By this arrangend of the lever it it oossible to effect the sounding of on even slight degree of deflois re.

u'ers prefer to maintain a high r: .n their tires, while others prefer a I have accordingly proregulating the point at 'gnul sounded in the deflation of conhection "with which this device; is By reference to Fig. 4, itwill he not that I have provided an adjustable to limit the movement of the lever .he pressure of spring 26. This stop referehly a. screvWt-hreaded pin placed a. rew-threoded opening in the cusg, &5 is also preferably pro rcith 21 nut 41' to secure it against dislVhere it desired that an alarm be sounded upon a slight degree of deflation, the stop 45 is advanced toward the lever 25 to a desired degree which may be regulated to suit the users requirements. Vihen the stop 4-5 is adjusted to the desired position, the plate 20 is adjusted into contact with tire. To effect this adjustment and secure the permanency of the relation liietiveen the plate and the operating lever I provide the contacting points of the lever Qiinnd the abutting portion of the rock shaft it? with radial serrations 48. When this art justn'ieut is made the nut 17 screwed up The the up stub shot. 54-. extends through the cssing 12 and is provided with hand or indicating rm unich is secured thereto by frictional ce t -ct so that said 'nd can he at any do position on tn haft The provided with me o, for setting some in any desired p f aft order that it user in y in the defile-- n his own standard pressure so tout s id hund will not more heyond the ht on the scale until. .1 has he the invention is that clearly- '58 with guide pins 59 movable within slots adjustment between plate QOsndcome deflated beyond a. desired or predetermined point. When the hand has been set as specified, the user can determine, not only the exact degree of deflation, but the degree of deflation, indicated by the move ment of the hand beyond the zero point, in excess of any predetermined degree of defiction.

A. particular advantage of the visual indicator is that the user can, by bringing the portion of the tireadjacent the arm 20 in conjunction with the ground or floor, determine thedegree of deflation of his tires, before using his vehicle,' thus enabling him to bring the pressure in the tires up to exactly the; desired point.

By reference to Fig. 7 of the drawing, it

will be notedthnt the lower end of the casing 12 provided 'with a dust-excluding sliding closure 66 provided with an opening 57 for the passage therethrough of the lever The closure 56 is provided at its side in thetop of the casing 12. By means of this closure, the casing 12 is rendered substantially dust-proof, and the protection of the operative parts of the indicator insured.

Whiie I have shown and described a, preferred of my invention as best illustinting the principle of the invention, and the structure and operation thereof, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto, but that various modifications may be made within the spirit of my invention Without departure 'from the ap pended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I cluim:--

1. in a device of the character described, a ri id plate adapted to be secured between adjacent sphkes of a. wheel equipped with an inflated tire, said plate having a curved extension extending out of the plane of the spokes adjacent the surface of the folly and conforming approximately in shape thereto, said extension terminating adjacent i311" :ielly and hack of the rim, a tire engaging, plate pivoted to said extension and adapted to extend around the edge of the rim in close proximity thereto and along the tire in contact rhermvith, signal producing means carried by support, means to efi'ect the operation of the signal upon the outward movement of said tire engaging plate.

9. In a device of the character described, a supporting plate provided at one end with n laterally extending curved portion adopted to conform to the shape of the folly and terminating wholly behind the rim to be protected thereby, a lever curved intermediate its ends for providing a portion con resounding substontielly in shape to the curved portion of said plate, a tire engaging element disposed adjacent the outerend of the lever, common means for pivoting said 0 150m die phi-e slam 0'33; it In a (levies 0f t a supporting element, the same to 110 spoke lever, an (ale sxylnging lever plvotally counec ic'ilv connected a a "'m as engaging e upon the second I1 producing means 0 4-. In A device 01'' supporting stru v the same ta a Wheel, ment pivots-11y connect var with the supg xoyi'il'zg s in; rigid. connacw ver, signal producing swlngmg lever, a tire gitudinally adjustably mnunte ment, and 111mm to eien' em in ad'ju on. the

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